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Poster:	Hg80	Date:	Jan 30, 2012 5:00pm
Forum:	feature_films	Subject:	"The Burmese Harp" PD status

Kon Ichikawa's "The Burmese Harp" [1956]

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Poster:	larus	Date:	Jan 30, 2012 11:40pm
Forum:	feature_films	Subject:	Re: 'The Burmese Harp' PD status

Its US copyright was renewed, so it is protected in the US until 2052:
Type of Work: Motion Picture
Registration Number / Date: RE0000256339 / 1985-04-18
Renewal registration for: PA0000240429 / 1957-02-12
Title: Biruma no tategoto.
Copyright Claimant: Nikkatsu Corporation (PWH)
Other Title: The Burmese harp
Harp of Burma.
Names: Nikkatsu Corporation

But even if there had been no renewal (or it if had been published without a valid copyright notice), its US copyright would have been restored as of January 1st 1996 under the Uruguay Rounds Agreements Act since none of the exemptions apply:
-director Kon Ichikawa is from Japan, an eligible country
-according to IMDB, the film was first published in Japan, an eligible country, in early 1956. IMDB gives the US release date as 1967, while the USCO registration date dates back to early 1957, both dates being well after the 30-day exemption window
-the film was under copyright in Japan on January 1st, 1996, (as a pre-1970 film, it will be protected for at least 38 years after Ichikawa's death, which occurred in 2008)